At HIFF, our volunteers are the backbone of the festival, and with their help, we’re able to bring together filmmakers, actors, and film enthusiasts from all around the world.
In this short Q&A, meet Volunteer Coordinator Adrienne Wilson and Volunteer Assistant Kenna Tanouye as they talk about what goes on behind the scenes in shaping the volunteer experience, along with Volunteer Avery Wilson, who talks about her experiences at HIFF.
Please tell me a little bit about yourself and how long you’ve been with HIFF.
Hi! I’m Adrienne Wilson, and this is my first year working for HIFF. My fascination with the film world began when I was a child, falling in love with classics like A LITTLE PRINCESS, LABYRINTH, and HARRY POTTER. Having worked in front of and behind the camera, I’m constantly drawn to storytelling, whether it’s supporting fellow creatives or just trying to convince my cat that I’m rehearsing lines for an Oscar-worthy performance! I love meeting people who share a passion for film, and I’m excited to be a part of this vibrant community.
As a Volunteer Coordinator, what are your responsibilities before and during the festival?
As Volunteer Coordinator, my responsibilities are kinda like producing and directing a fun film! I recruit and train volunteers, organize schedules, and make sure everyone knows their roles. Instead of actors, I’m working with a diverse cast of volunteers to achieve a common goal – an amazing festival experience. I believe that the volunteers are the backbone of the festival, and I strive to make sure they feel valued and appreciated.
What is your favorite thing about being a Volunteer Coordinator and working at HIFF in general?
I love the creative freedom I have in shaping the volunteer experience. It’s fun to brainstorm and implement ideas that not only enhance the festival but also keep everyone motivated and excited to be a part of the team. Additionally, I learn so much from our staff and our volunteers. Everyone contributes their own unique experiences and perspectives and that in turn enriches the overall festival environment. I am so excited for HIFF this year!
Meet Volunteer Assistant Kenna Tanouye:
Please tell me a little bit about yourself and how long you’ve been with HIFF.
Hi! My name is Kenna Tanouye. I began volunteering with HIFF in March 2023 for the Spring Showcase and this is my first year as the Volunteer Assistant supporting Adrienne, our Volunteer Coordinator. I’m an avid movie goer and lover of everything pop culture, so this made total sense for me to help our local community connect with great films from around the world!
As a Volunteer Assistant, what are your responsibilities before and during the festival?
As Volunteer Assistant, I help support Adrienne in the overall administrative and operational aspects of Volunteer coordination. There’s a lot of nitty gritty that goes into trying to best organize all of the information and data surrounding our volunteer roles and scheduling, voucher issuing, gathering volunteer feedback, along with countless other things. I try to help consolidate and organize it in a way for our team to be able to easily understand it, so that they can utilize it for whatever they need.
What is your favorite thing about being a Volunteer Assistant and working at HIFF in general?
My favorite part about this role is getting to see returning volunteers come back to help us every season and then meeting new people who are getting to volunteer with HIFF for the first time. You get to see the festival through a new perspective working with the volunteers and I think they provide incredibly valuable insight into creating an overall great guest experience. As someone who was born and raised on O’ahu, I love the positive impact that the Hawai’i International Film Festival has on local up-and-coming filmmakers and creatives, providing access to world-class films that they may not have gotten the chance to experience otherwise.
Please tell me a little about yourself and your experience volunteering at HIFF.
I’ve volunteered with HIFF for about a year. With over five years of experience with other film festivals, working with HIFF felt organic and has been a fulfilling way to engage with the community, local organizations, and artists.
Please share one memorable moment you had while volunteering at the festival.
On a day to day, it’s easy to forget that a lot of the people you are assisting are often filmmakers themselves. I was helping someone find a specific theater, and afterwards they thanked me and introduced themselves as a producer for one of our showcased films. Ever since then, I always encourage our new volunteers to keep in touch with our off-season events and industry panels to get behind-the-scenes insight and understand how beneficial volunteers are to every step in the filmmaking process.
What is your favorite thing about volunteering for HIFF?
HIFF brings to life a multitude of unique narratives from across the Pacific. With ‘Opio, they provide a platform for youth perspectives, and with events like Art Night at the Capitol, Photocon, Summer Nights at the Prince Waikiki, and Comic Con, they support many creative outlets to provide a space to collectively share stories and integrate with the rest of the world.
Thank you, Adrienne, Kenna, and Avery! HIFF is grateful for our volunteer team, as well as new and returning volunteers. To learn more about volunteer activities, perks, and opportunities, please visit here or email [email protected].
Kristy Miki Munakata is a Uchinaanchu, Japanese, and Chinese artist from Kapolei, O‘ahu. She is currently working as a Programming Associate for HIFF Fall 2024. A recent graduate from the UH Mānoa School of Cinematic Arts, she is passionate about films with nonlinear narratives and stories told from an intersectional feminist and decolonial lens.
